DO-GOODER Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

do-gooder

noun

Definition of do-gooder

as in optimist

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of do-gooder Amazon is searching for more unsuspecting do-gooders after renewing comedy Jury Duty for a third season. — Peter White, Deadline, 11 May 2026 Boring dad; feisty mom; rich do-gooder; striving newcomer; MAGA one; MAGA two. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The shift away from reliability suggests a sly reversal of sympathies from the artist to the do-gooder sibling. — Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 The notion of a virtuous do-gooder saving the day is too simplistic for this story. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for do-gooder

Recent Examples of Synonyms for do-gooder

Noun

Now the rot is right there on the surface; the people smiling are less likely to be clueless optimists than the people who are happy about the rot, or profiting from it.

— Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
That gloom extends far beyond assessments of the current time period; the Post/Ipsos poll found that 59% of Americans doubt their family's ability to improve their standard of living, outnumbering optimists by nearly 20 points.

— Emily Guskin, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of optimist

Noun

The actress, best known for Pollyanna and the original version of The Parent Trap, appeared on the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandreth, alongside sister Juliet Mills.

— Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Doom and gloom always sells better than Pollyanna—but Pollyanna turns out to be more accurate, on average, in the long run.

— Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 14 Jan. 2026

Definition of Pollyanna

Noun

How did Infantino go from progressive reformer, the overseer of newly transparent and accountable FIFA, to the man who literally tried to sell the World Cup?

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Two fuels, one engine At the heart of the demonstration is Amogy’s AMMDrive platform, which combines the company’s ammonia reformer with 2G Energy’s Agenitor 412 engine-generator.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of reformer

Noun

Basko, who founded the Historic New Jersey label in his South Philly basement studio, is an analog perfectionist who has played in Foxygen, written songs for a superhero TV show, and released four solo albums last year.

— W. Reed Putnam, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
The primary focus will be on manager Thomas Tuchel, the German perfectionist who drew the ire of his nation after being critical of the Three Lions’ performance in the quarterfinal win over Norway.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Definition of perfectionist

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“Do-gooder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/do-gooder. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of do-gooder

noun

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